Police launch manhunt for killers of Akwa Ibom clerics
By Wilson Adekumola
Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched manhunt for the killers of the General Overseer, Mount of Solution Redeemed Church Ikot Ekang, Abak Local Government Area, Prophet Elisha Asuquo and his Pastor, Apostle Aniekan Ibanga.
This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the Sate Police Command’s Spokesperson, CSP Odiko MacDon, saying that the Police condemn the dastardly act in totality.
He stated that the Commissioner of Police in the State command, Mr. Waheed Ayilara, condemned the killing while ordering discreet investigation into the killing, noting that the the perpetrators would soon be brought to book.
He MacDon noted that the Police command also condemn the rising cases of jungle Justice in the state in recent times, bemoaning that the residents could not hand over suspected criminals to the law enforcement agencies.
“We condemn the killing in totality. The Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara has ordered discreet investigation into the matter. So investigation has commenced, and the perpetrators will be brought to book soon.
“The Police are on their trail and I know that it won’t take long they will pay for their atrocities. We are closing in on them. Why go to the church to harm people. What is it that one cannot approach law enforcement agencies to see how it can be resolved.
“And we also want to condemn very strongly the practice of jungle justice. Only on Monday somebody was burnt alive at Ikot Mbang, just after the Ibom Specialist Hospital because he was accused of stealing something from a Car.
“Also if not for the timely intervention of the Polic, there was another person that was almost lynched (same Monday), because somebody raised a false alarm that his manhood was taken from him.
“We are calling on the residents to eschew act of jungle justice because an innocent person might end up being hurt or killed. We need to tell ourselves the truth that jungle justice is a miscarriage of justice,” he said.
Prophet Elisha Asuquo and Apostle Aniekan Ibanga, who hail from Adiasim in EssienUdim LGA and Ikot Obioikpa village, Afaha Obong Clan in Abak Local Government area respectively, were shot dead by gunmen suspected to be hired assassins during a meeting within the Church Premises last Friday.
